Lenovo ThinkPads are usually the choice of businesses when it comes to notebooks. In recent months, the company introduced smaller, ultra-portable laptops aimed at mobile warriors -- these models included the 13" ThinkPad X300 and the 12.1" ThinkPad X200; both are available with solid state drive (SSDs).

Lenovo is now expanding its ThinkPad lineup with a new mobile workstation model. The new ThinkPad W700 features a 17" WXGA screen (WUXGA optional) which is backed by either a 512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M or 1GB NVIDIA Quadro 3700M Open GL graphics processor. Outputting graphics to an external monitor is handled by a Dual Link DVI port, VGA port, or Display Port connector.

Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 will use Intel's latest and faster Penryn-based mobile processors and can be equipped with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. In addition, the system can be configured with up to 2GB of Intel Turbo Memory. Because of its large frame, the ThinkPad W700 can also accommodate up to two HDDs in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration.

The ThinkPad W700's large frame also allows it not only to feature the traditional Trackpoint + touchpad, but also an optional built-in WACOM tablet for the graphic artists out there. Other features include five USB ports, an ExpressCard slot, multi-card reader, optional Blu-ray/DVD burner, and an optional dock which adds eSATA ports and digital audio.

"Lenovo has engineered a new breed of mobile workstation with the ThinkPad W700," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo. "No other PC manufacturer has a mobile workstation that delivers the sheer power, performance and cutting-edge innovation that Lenovo has packed into the ThinkPad W700. The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation flat out delivers the command performance our customers demand at the desk as well as in the field."

Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 starts at $2,978 (2.53GHz/2GB/160GB/DVD Burner/Quadro FX 2700/Vista Business) and is available online, although it won't ship for another two to three weeks.

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